Rating: 
Summary: a revealing look into the heart of American tolerance
Review: Most readers of Thompson's later works will find a distinct change of meter and substance when compared with this work. Here we find the stylings of a foreign correspondant, mixed with the wry wit unique to the doctor. Over all, this is compelling work. A well-paced, thoroughly documented existence in a world where very few of its residents are still around to share their experiences.
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Summary: Hunter S. Thompson is one journalist with guts
Review: Thompson's Hell's Angels is a masterpiece of American Journalism...Not only does he teach us about the most known--and maybe the most notorious--outlaw biker gang in the world, he also teaches us what it means to be a journalist. He shows he has guts just by spending so much time with the gang most people feared back in the 60s, and by not being afraid to show he had what so many other writers and reporters lacked. I can only hope journalists in the 90s--including myself--can follow his bright example.
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Summary: Brilliant Journalism: HST is the man...
Review: Thompson produces classic, madcap romps through the American psyche. HELL'S ANGELS is a great example... Vibrant and hilarious.
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Summary: Bad Craziness in Frisco with Sonny Barger!
Review: Hunter S. Thompson's 1960s classic HELL'S ANGELS is begging to be made into a feature film. Full of great characters, vignettes, and warped dialogue--the book snap, crackles, and pops with fiery brilliance.
A full technicolor recreation of the brutal ass-whipping HST took from the motorcycle thugs would make for fine entertainment!
A twisted classic that still packs a mean wallop thirty years later.
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Summary: Thompson's most overlooked, and best, work
Review: I'm always surprised when fans of the great Doctor tell me they haven't read Hell's Angels. Sure, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is probably his most humorous work, and some say it is the most profound. Fair enough. But Hell's Angels has much more substance, and it has a sort of historical significance about it for Thompson fans. It is the story not only of the famous biker gang, but, on a less obvious level, the events that shaped the character of Hunter S. Thompson and made him a true master of modern literature. It also shows what a gutsy journalist can do (and become) when he throws himself into a story. I've been a journalist going on 12 years now, and I blame Thompson for my sorry fate. Reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when I was a high school senior led me to this "low trade," as the good Doctor would put it, but reading "Hell's Angels" several years ago reminded me why I chose this field and gave me the guts to stick with it, despite having to work for a wimpy newspaper publisher who eventually fired me for stirring up too much trouble with businesses owned or controlled by his millionaire friends. Thanks, Hunter. You bastard
Rating:
Summary: Wild Ride, Wild Writing, Off-The-Wall Literary Brilliance!
Review: The original demonstration of gut-wrenching, brutally-insightful, stream-of-consciousness journalism as displayed by the board-certified and often self-stimulated Doctor of Gonzo himself. The born-in-America phenomenon of outlaw motorcycle gangs is irreverently exposed -- the rumbling, drinking, riding, snorting, fornicating, smoking, racing, is exposed and finally culminates with the outlaw bikers joining forces and beating the crap of the author. It's a fitting finale to a wild & crazy ride with a wild &
crazy group of anti-social, tatooed, psychopath, drug & alcohol enhanced Harley outlaws and
their motorcycle mamas. "Hell's Angels" is a classic and literary predecessor to the next step, "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas." He's wild, he's crazy, he drives a Vincent Black Shadow, he's
Hunter S. Thompson.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and not what you'd think
Review: What do these guys do all day? Why do they behave like they do? This book takes you to their rallies, parties and homes (when they have them). Next time you see one of those guys ride by, you'll understand where he is coming from! Definitely better and different than your average book. A quick read, too
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Summary: This Isn't Your Typical Thompson
Review: Having read Hell's Angels, A Strange and Terrible saga at least eight times starting in 1968, I never cease to be amazed at the criticisms leveled against it in the ensuing years, the major one being that it's not a Fear and Loathing book. I'm pretty sure it was originally a (very) long article written for The Nation magazine. The Nation ain't Rolling Stone, kids. If you are coming to this book expecting Hunter's usual blend of fact, fiction, and hallucinations, you will be sorely disappointed. "Gonzo journalist" though he is, the operative part there was journalist. He had, after all, developed a rather strong food habit since birth, and had no desire to kick it. He explores the Angels' mystique by letting them provide the history, their then current attitudes, and their lives as outlaws outside the system. He then blends research and his observations gleaned from riding with them for the better part of a year into the mix, producing a riveting book. Since the recent death of Marlon Brando, his movie The Wild One has gained a new audience; it is in fact based on an incident Hunter chronicles in this book, the Rape of Hollister. Oddly, nothing remotely similar to the movie happened there, and some other legendary "motorcycle riots" such as the one at Laconia, New Hampshire, weren't initially riots at all, and certainly didn't involve the Angels, though the media portrayed these events as the brink of Armageddon and gave middle America yet another "dangerous group running wild in their midst," something else to freak over in addition to Communists hiding under every rock. The Angels became, over time, what people expected them to be. Hunter recognized this transformational quality in his own profession: if other reporters, from respected national magazines, could make up stories or at least embellish them enough to freak people out, he could do it better! What you will find in Hell's Angels is great reporting, an unflinching look at real wildness and personal risk, and the genesis of what would become Hunter's trademark style. If for no other reason, fans of Tom Wolfe, Ken Kesey, or the "Beats" (including the real "Dean Moriarty" from On the Road, still alive at the time, still driving, and hanging out with the Pranksters) should read this book for the legendary Acid Test at Kesey's place at La Honda when Hunter and the Angels showed up (by invitation, as Kesey was burning to meet them). In a singularly rare occurrence, we find two journalists just before they became instant icons writing about the same private party, rather than, say an inauguration, or awards ceremony, or some other public spectacle; the "public" was definitely not invited to La Honda. Compare Hunter's account of that weekend with the one that appears in the Electric Kool Aid Acid Test; you might just be surprised by who is the more "legitimate" writer. I obviously love this book and highly recommend it, but again, it isn't FEAR and LOATHING WITH THE HELL'S ANGELS; it's far too serious a situation for that, as you will discover upon reading it. (And if that idea somehow still escapes you, watch Gimme Shelter, the great Maysles brothers' documentary of the Stones free concert at Altamont; if THAT doesn't do it, go down to your local biker bar and kick over a few choppers; you'll deserve what you get.)
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Summary: No other book like it !
Review: I read this work while recouping from an operation. I could really identify with his tale of life with the Angels as I at only twelve years old was on the yearly, family summer vacation at Bass Lake when the Angels arrived in the evening. I now at 52 remember the experience as graphic as HST desribed it as I ran up to the highway after being awaken by the ground shaking noise of I do not know how many hundred knuckle, pan, and shovelheads slowly cruising around the Lake with a right hand on the throttle and the left hand holding an open bottle. It showed an expression of freedom that most will never know. It was one of the best books that I will ever read.
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Summary: Hunter S. Thompson's first great book
Review: The 60's were a time of social protest and upheaval. Many changes both good and bad came to American society. This strange period also allowed for many innovations and changes to be brought to journalism and literature. Hunter S Thompson emerged from the mountains of Kentucky to become a journalistic legend. His brand of gonzo journalism was a perfect fit for the times. He was the whiskey drinking, drug abusing wild man always willing to go over the edge to get the story.
During the mid-60's, Thompson decided to ride with the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. There was a lot of press about this gang and he wanted to get the real story. He wanted to understand and reveal the psychology behind these vagabond outlaws.
This required gaining their trust to be allowed to ride with them and hang out with them on runs. He convinced them of his intent to write a truthful account of their culture and lifestyle. They were always wary of reporters who merely wanted sensationalist shock stories. This distrust provided Thompson with a major challenge. Many members never warmed up to Thompson at all.
Thompson was able to gain enough trust to learn a lot of their rituals and beliefs. Sonny Barger, the leader of the Angels was intrigued with the idea of having an honest book written about their "club". Thompson rode with them, partied with them and went with them on runs. He ultimately ended up getting stomped on by several members of the gang who didn't want the book to be published. This beating effectively terminated Thompson's relationship with the Hell's Angels.
The result of this association is "Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrifying Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang". This book was first published in 1966 and it must have been shocking for that era. It was raw and graphic in its frankness. It was the book that made Thompson a legend (even before Fear & Loathing).
The Hell's Angels were hardly model citizens. They were dirty, crude drunken drug abusers. Fighting and rape were among their hobbies. One ritual upon entering the club is that members would all urinate on the jacket of the new member. This is certainly not a book for the queasy or faint of heart.
The Angels combine conformity with outsider status. They become outlaws to society yet conform to their own group standards. Their violence is standard to mob violence throughout history. Many members have lives outside the club but once together they become a gang. When that happens baser instincts begin to emerge. Soon they begin to behave like English soccer hooligans.
Thompson does an outstanding job of trying to piece together all the different elements of this society. Scorn for police and law is coupled with a curious patriotism. The Angels hated war protesters and offered to go to Vietnam to fight. President Johnson declined this offer. They get drunk, take drugs, commit crimes and yet are extremely loyal to one another. The phrase "Honor among thieves" apparently has some truth to it.
Many passages in this book are hard to take. The misogyny and violence is startling. Thompson is to be commended for trying to reach the truth. He does not set out to make them look bad nor does he romanticize them. This book is a fascinating account of this underbelly of American society. It will shock and disturb many but I believe there is much that can be learned in this book, but try it for yourself! Pick up a copy! Another book I need to recommend -- completely unrelated to Thompson, but very much on my mind since I purchased a "used" copy off Amazon is "The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez, an exceptional, highly entertaining little novel I can't stop thinking about.
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